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+# Getting Started
+ 
+## Prerequisites
+ 
+- Go 1.22 or later (the router uses method+path patterns introduced in 1.22)
+- No other external dependencies — SQLite is bundled via `modernc.org/sqlite` (pure Go, no CGO required)
+ 
+---
+ 
+## Installation
+ 
+```bash
+git clone https://git.samantha42.xyz/samantha/FPandA-Engine
+cd FPandA-Engine
+```
+ 
+Copy the example environment file:
+ 
+```bash
+cp .env.example .env
+```
+ 
+Install Go module dependencies:
+ 
+```bash
+go mod tidy
+```
+ 
+---
+ 
+## Running the Server
+ 
+```bash
+go run ./main.go
+```
+ 
+On first run, the engine will:
+ 
+1. Open (or create) the SQLite database at the path specified by `DB_PATH` (defaults to `fpa.db` in the current directory)
+2. Run `CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS` migrations automatically — no migration tool needed
+3. Start the HTTP server on port `8080` (or the value of `PORT`)
+ 
+You should see structured JSON log output:
+ 
+```json
+{"time":"...","level":"INFO","msg":"server starting","port":"8080","db":"fpa.db"}
+```
+ 
+---
+ 
+## Verify It's Running
+ 
+```bash
+curl http://localhost:8080/api/v1/health
+# → {"status":"ok"}
+```
+ 
+---
+ 
+## Load Demo Data
+ 
+The repo includes a seed script with realistic data for Engineering, Sales, and Marketing departments across FY2024 period 9. See `scripts/seed_demo.sh` or POST directly to `/api/v1/actuals/ingest`.
+ 
+---
+ 
+## Stopping the Server
+ 
+Send `SIGINT` or `SIGTERM` (i.e. `Ctrl+C`). The server performs a graceful shutdown with a 15-second drain timeout before closing.
+ 
+---
+ 
+## Running Tests
+ 
+```bash
+go test ./...
+```
+ 
+Tests use Go's built-in testing package. The database is configured to use `:memory:` for tests so no disk state is left behind.
+ 
+---
+ 
+## Next Steps
+ 
+- See [API Reference](API-Reference) for all available endpoints
+- See [Finance Concepts](Finance-Concepts) to understand favourability logic and budget versioning
+- See [Configuration](Configuration) for all available environment variables
+ 
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